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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: roll · staff · key · pound · stand · scale · current · bowl

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. staff — employees
  3. key — for a lock
  4. pound — for dogs
  5. staff — a stick
  6. scale — size or range
  7. current — electric
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. roll — a list
  10. current — happening now
  11. scale — in music
  12. key — in music
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. stand — to bear
  15. pound — a weight
  16. roll — a cake
  17. pound — to hit hard
  18. staff — employees
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. current — of water
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. key — the most important part
  23. bowl — a football final
  24. bowl — to roll

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com